Afternoons for Wednesday 30 March 2022

 

1:20 Generous donation made to continue research for bipolar treatments

A Christchurch family has donated $500,000 to the University of Otago to help researchers expand their work into treatments for bipolar disorder.

The donation was made in memory of much-loved wife and mother, Sue Bradford, who suffered from the illness.

Professor Richard Porter from Otago University's Department of Psychological Medicine talks to Jesse about what this donation will mean for him and his team.

1:30 Coastal erosion close to claiming homes in Golden Bay community

It's been a long, winding journey for the residents of Pākawau, who's homes are being threatened by the eroding seawall in front of them.

What was once a long, gentle slop leading to the beach is now a verticle drop that sits mere metres from some properties.

The Pākawau Community Residents Association has pled to council many times over the years to install a protective rock wall, to no avail.

So, they're taking matters into their own hands. The association's coastal protection committee chair Laurie Jarrett talks to Jesse about what they're doing.

1:40 Stuff series on expats coming back to Aotearoa during the pandemic 

A new series has started on the Stuff website today, following the fortunes of six couples who returned to New Zealand during the pandemic to rebuild their lives, often from scratch.

Jesse's speaks to the series producer, Naashon Zalk talks to Jesse about following the plight of the six families and the hurdles they had to overcome to make Aotearoa home again.

1:55 Afternoons Quiz Robert Kelly

RNZ producer and onetime bookseller Robert Kelly presents his weekly quiz.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Alix Higby

RNZ Afternoons producer, Alix Higby, has been listening to Boys Like Me and The Elephant in the Bedroom.

2:25 Bookmarks with Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom

Our Bookmarks guest today is illustrator and comic book artist Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom.

Born in South Korea, she was removed from her mother and listed as an orphan before being adopted by a Swedish family when she was two.

She now lives in Tāmaki Makaurau, where she uses her art as a medium for adoptee activism.

3:10 Why forgetting can be beneficial for us

Most of us have had moments, if not days or even weeks  during this pandemic we'd rather forget. And the good news is we will says neuroscientist Dr Scott Small. He studies memory and says forgetting is not only normal, it's  good for you. He shares the science that reveals the creative and cognitive benefits of forgetting.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

This week on Our Changing World, Claire speaks to some of the research team working on a new cancer treatment at the Malaghan Institute for Medical Research.

In 'CAR T-cell therapy' the patient's own immune cells get equipped with a cancer detecting receptor to help them identify and kill cancer cells.

The institute is running a Phase 1 clinical trial to test a therapy they have developed on a certain type of blood cancer.

Meanwhile, the research team is busy investigating how to make the therapy safer, more effective and applicable to other types of cancer.

3:45 The Panel with Jo McCarroll and Stephen Jacobi